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Frontispiece 


a 


Princess” Mae 

A ROMANCE 


BY 

LOUISE ELDONREK 

it * 


Illustrated By 
E. J. WINN 

Cover Design and Title Page By 
JOHN RANDOLPH TALBERT 


RICHMOND, VA. 
CENTRAL PUBLISHING CO., Inc. 
1914 


PZ-3 

.^V5 C ' 

P 


COPYRIGHT 1914 

BY 

Central Publishing Co., Inc. 

1536-1540 E. BROAD STREET 
RICHMOND, VA. 


OCT -7 1914 


©CI.A380751 



DEDICATED TO 

The best boy in the world — my son. 


Contents 


PAGE 

I— Introducing “Princess” Mae 11 

II— A Face Against the Window 16 

III. — Mae Norton’s Home 19 

IV— A Quick Decision 23 

V— Air Castles Well Enough,— But They Shatter . 28 

VI— In Which “Pete” Gossips Some 32 

VII. — Duplicity — But Cupid is to Blame 36 

VIII — Suspense 40 

IX— Love or Honor 46 

X. — “What is so Rare as a Day in June” 49 

XI— “A Hope Beyond the Shadow of a Doubt” 47 

XII. — The Villagers Become Interested 60 

XII I .—Playmates 66 

XIV— Unanswered Questions 69 

XV. — Fate’s Worst 75 

XVI. — “O God! That One Might Read the Book 

of Fate” 77 

XVII. — Mae’s Indignation 80 

XVIII.— “Men Were Deceivers Ever,” 83 

XIX. — “Surely ’Tis an III Wind that Blows 

Nobody Good” 86 

XX. — “Yes, We must be Friends” 91 

XXI. — “He Looked at Her and Saw Nothing but Her” .94 

XXII— “A Message the Roses Bring,” 98 


8 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


XXIII. — “Nobody Else Just Like You,” 101 

XXIV. — “Hopes and Fears — Beliefs and Disbeliefs” . . 105 

XXV— “Tell Me That You Love Me” 108 

EPILOGUE 112 


Illustrations 


Frontispiece* k 

“Her Beautiful Eyes Fixed on the Train She 

Still Watched till it Passed Entirely from 

Her View.” Facing Page 12 ^ 

“The Letter had Disconcerted Her but it had 

not Made Her Unhappy.” Facing Page 84 * 

“ T am Ashamed that I Doubted, and to Prove 
that I Believe in You, I Accept Your Word 
without Further Proof.’ ” Facing Page 112 v 


*A photograph, the original of which, Miss F. Wilma Winn, 
is said by Sir A. Conan Doyle to be the most beautiful woman 
he saw while on his recent tour of America. 




“Princess” Mae. 


CHAPTER I. 

INTRODUCING “PRINCESS” MAE. 

“She was a 'phantom of delight, 

When first she gleamed upon my sight ” 

tT)RINCESS/ we are waiting for you.” 

Hearing no response, the soft voice 
again called: “ ‘Princess/ are you 
coming?” 

“O Mother, please wait just one minute; 
Til come just as soon as the train passes,” 
“Princess” Mae answered in her most per- 
suasive tones to repeated calls to “come in 
to lunch.” 

“Princess” was not her real name, but 
some way her friends thought it was the only 


12 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


name that suited her. But to others she 
was just Mae Norton. 

When I saw her she was sitting on the 
porch with her beautiful eyes fixed on the 
train that was just steaming up to pull out 
of the station; and as it passed her house, 
she still watched till it turned the curve and 
passed entirely from her view, and even then 
she remained motionless, watching the thick 
black smoke, curling in fantastic shapes, 
until it, too, became fainter and fainter, and 
then faded altogether. 

Surely, she did not know what an enchant- 
ing picture she made. Her eyes were blue, 
oh, so blue and soulful; they were shaded 
by long curling lashes, the brows perfectly 
curved, and her lips were like the coral stem. 
Just a smile would disclose the sauciest 
of dimples, and I would not dare tell the 
color of her hair, for I have seen it when I 
might have said it was red. But a toss of her 
head and the light would fall a little different- 



“Her Beautiful Eyes Fixed on the Train. . . She Still 
Watched till it Passed Entirely from Her View.” 


0 





“PRINCESS” MAE 


13 


ly on it, and then I knew I was mistaken; 
for the sun shining through it would satisfy 
me that it was golden. Perhaps, after all, 
copper would be the only color that would 
really describe it. But let that be as it may, 
it seemed to me there was no other hair just 
like it in the world, and no face could have 
been fairer nor more beautiful. 

I watched her for a few seconds and then 
said, “Well, ‘Princess/ what are you dream- 
ing about? I have been standing near you for 
some time, waiting for you to speak, but 
I believe I could have gone away and you 
would never have known I had been here. 
Tell me what is so attractive about that train 
that you can’t even see your friends, nor 
hear them when they speak to you?” 

“Princess” Mae smiled one of her most 
bewitching, rougish smiles that brought the 
dimples in view, and then her lips parted, 
showing her teeth that were like a row of 
pearls. She clasped her hands and gave a 


14 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


toss of her head in her characteristic way, 
which changed her hair to gold again; then, 
such a ripple of childish laughter! The 
sound was like the music of silver bells. 

“Can't you guess of what I was thinking?" 
she said to me. “Well, I will tell you, I was 
wishing that I might know how each person 
on that train appeared, the reason for the 
trip, and their destination. Then I became 
one of the crowd, and my romance began. 
My air-castles were so enchanting that if 
you had not have spoken, I might not have 
gotten any lunch, for it must have been sev- 
eral minutes instead of one, since I pleaded 
for only one minute more," and then she 
laughed again in her happy, gleeful way, and 
said: “Some day I shall really be there with 
my Prince, who will be taking me away to his 
castle, and then even the voice of a friend 
will not shatter my dreams, for they will be 
real." 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


15 


Again, her mother called, and “Princess” 
answered: “I am coming, mother.” 

I could not keep from thinking that she 
could be a real Princess, were some Prince 
to see her, as she stood before me now. When 
she went into the house, little did she think 
that the romance of her life had already 
begun, with the passing of the train. 


CHAPTER II. 


A FACE AGAINST THE WINDOW. 

“Whoever loved, that loved not at first sight” 

Near a large Southern city lived a family 
by the name of Marsdon, a family whose 
blood was very blue, a family of influence 
and wealth; their youngest son, Jim Mars- 
don, had graduated from a celebrated college, 
of which his grandfather was president, and 
at the age of twenty-four, had taken his 
diploma with high honors in medicine from 
one of the best colleges in the North. 

He went home with laurels, but close appli- 
cation to his studies had undermined his 
strength, and he was sent to a hospital where 
he remained almost a physical wreck for four 
months; then he traveled for a while and 
gradually regained a part of his former health, 
but his physicians would not consent for him 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


17 


to follow his chosen profession, at least for 
a year. 

Jim would not consent to be entirely idle, 
so decided upon a position that would keep 
him on the road. Much of his traveling 
would be through the country where he could 
ride horse-back and stay in the open air 
almost continuously. 

On the day when “Princess” Mae was sit- 
ting on the porch, watching the train, as it 
rushed on its way to the next village, a dis- 
tance of less than three miles, Jim Marsdon 
was looking from the window, with nothing 
very cheerful to think about and rather be- 
moaning the fact that he had a long, tire- 
some journey ahead of him. 

The towns that he had been passing through 
since early morning held no special charms 
for him — anyway, he glanced out of the 
window; he saw a station with the usual 
number of village loafers and just beyond an 
unattractive store. The train stopped for 
2 


18 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


a minute only and then pulled out again. 
He was about to settle back into his seat, 
when he caught a glimpse of a face. He 
pressed his face close against the window, 
and soon the train had taken him out of 
view. 

He was thoroughly interested now; he 
looked back and strained his eyes, trying to 
see the outline of the picture he had just 
passed. For in it was the most beautiful 
girl he had ever seen; and every minute he 
was being whirled faster and faster away 
from her. 


CHAPTER III. 


MAE NORTON’S HOME. 

“Princess” Mae lived in a small college 
town. Her father died when she was quite 
young, and her mother, Mrs. Norton, and 
her sister, Helen Norton, were the other 
members of the family. 

Mrs. Norton was a quiet, gentle little 
woman. Her skin was as fair as a girl's and 
her teeth were white and even; her hair was 
like spun silver and her eyes were exact 
counterparts of “Princess” Mae’s. There 
was a quaint stateliness about her that made 
one know that she had been accustomed to 
better days, yet with economy she and her 
family lived comfortably. Helen was several 
years older than “Princess” Mae, but it 
needed only a glance for one to know that 
they were sisters. 


20 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


For several years Helen had a position in 
the graded school, and “Princess” never 
knew just how much economy was practiced 
in order to give her the real luxuries that 
she often had; and even then there were 
times when it was necessary for her to wear 
a faded home-made dress, which, however, 
could not hide the exquisite curve of her 
figure. Perhaps her shoes were sometimes a 
little coarser than those worn by her girl 
friends, but even these did not hide the high 
arched instep, nor the shape of the small 
patrician foot. 

The house in which “Princess” lived was 
a pretty building, painted white with green 
window blinds and a long porch across the 
front. The house faced the railroad which 
passed through the center of the village. 
When the trains going west began to pull 
out from the station, they never got under 
full speed till after they passed her home, 
and the trains going east began slowing up 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


21 


just before reaching that point; and “Prin- 
cess” Mae loved to sit on the porch and 
watch the faces that were often pressed 
against the windows. And then, with the 
longing for a chance to travel and see some- 
thing of the beauties of the world, of which 
she had seen so little, she would forget every- 
thing else; and in her air-castles she would 
always figure a handsome lover whom she 
would marry, and he would take her away 
with him to all of the places and to see all 
of the glories of the outside world. 

At the rear of the house there was a small 
garden, where Helen and Mrs. Norton could 
gather fresh vegetables, and they would 
often have enough to dispose of some to the 
neighbors; and a few old-fashioned flowers 
grew there, too. Just back of this garden 
was a small plot of land, always green, like 
a carpet of velvet. A small brooklet added 
to its beauty and picturesqueness. It was 
a most attractive place, and “Princess” was 


22 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


never so happy as when it was warm enough 
for her to spend hours under the shade trees 
in this delightful spot. She would make gar- 
lands of the flowers and wreaths for her 
hair. She would try her fortune with the 
puff balls, and no care ever came to her when 
she was in her “bower of happiness.” 

Mrs. Norton had been persuaded to give 
“Princess” a year out of school. She hated 
to be shut up in the school-room, for she 
loved the birds which would come to eat 
crumbs from her hand. The pigeons knew 
her and she made friends with the rabbits. 
A peep into her “bower of happiness” would 
have delighted the eyes of an artist. 


CHAPTER IV. 


A QUICK DECISION. 

" Once to every man and nation comes the moment to 
decide 

Less than ten minutes were required to 
make the trip to the next station, so Jim 
Marsdon had to decide on some plan at 
once. He had already decided that he must 
see that face again. The only question was 
how to accomplish this. 

He had no time for further thought, for 
the engine was already slowing its speed. 
The train stopped for the shortest possible 
time, and Jim had decided. He grabbed his 
suit case and rushed off to find himself in 
a small village — one far less attractive than 
the village he had just passed through. There 
were a few dilapidated houses and a block of 
cheap brick stores, and he could hear the 


24 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


hum of machinery. A crowd of small dirty 
looking boys were playing near the depot — 
one, a negro, was standing by, watching the 
game. To him Jim Marsdon addressed his 
question, “Is there a stable near where I 
can get a horse?” 

The boy was pleased that the stranger 
should single him out from the crowed of white 
boys, so answered hurriedly, as though afraid 
one of the others would answer first, “Yes, 
siree, you just come along wid me and 111 
take you right over here to Mister Brown’s 
whar you kin git a hoss what is a hoss. Mister 
Brown traded fur him las’ week and paid 
some to boot, and if you rides behind that 
ar hoss, you’ll git whar you is gwine in no 
time.” Then a thought came to him sudden- 
ly and he said: “But, Mister, if you is afeard 
of a fas’ hoss, you’d better take 01’ Nance. 
She ain’t much peart no mo’, and yer ain’t 
allers sure you is gwine to git whar you’s 
gwine when you’s behind 01’ Nance.” 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


25 


When the boy had imparted this im- 
portant information, the stranger assured 
him he wanted to get where he was going 
just as quickly as he could get there, so he 
hoped he might be able to secure the new 
horse for his trip. 

By this time they had reached the stable, 
which had the necessary shingle hung out, 
bearing the sign “Timothy Brown’s Livery 
Stable” — but Marsdon didn’t need this to 
tell him it was there, for his guide, on reach- 
ing the spot, said, “Thar ’tis,” — and then 
stepping to the door he called, “Mister 
Brown, here’s a city man what wants a hoss 
what’ll take him whar he’s gwine.” 

Mr. Brown came out and his big round 
face was beaming with a good natured smile 
as he said, “Howdy, stranger, How far be 
you going today?” 

“I am anxious to get to Exter as soon as 
possible, and I will be very glad if you can 
send me over at once. It is quite important 


26 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


that I get there at the earliest possible mo- 
ment.” 

Mr. Brown’s face took on a serious look, 
as he said, “Young man, didn’t you just 
git off that train No. 23 whar just passed?” 

“Certainly,” replied Jim,” but what has 
that to do with it?” 

Brown took off his big sun hat, scratched 
his head, and looked more puzzled. 

“Well,” said Marsdon, “can you let me 
have the conveyance? I’m in a great hurry.” 

Mr. Brown still hesitated. Then eyeing 
the stranger more closely, he said, “Say, 
Mister, is anything wrong with your mind? 
Ten minutes ago you was in that town and 
now you is saying as how you must git back 
thar as quick as you can. Why didn’t you 
stay when you was thar?” 

Certainly, Mr. Brown felt that he had 
just reason for not trusting this person with 
one of his rigs; and certainly, he was not 
going with him, thereby coming in such close 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


27 


proximity with one whom he had begun to 
think was a crazy person. 

Marsdon had been so busy thinking of 
other things that it had never occured to 
him how odd his request would seem to one 
who did not understand. 

When he saw the situation as Mr. Brown 
saw it, he laughed heartily, and assured Mr. 
Brown that his mind was quite right, and 
that until the train had pulled out he had 
not thought of some important business 
which might mean much to him, so the only 
thing left for him to do was to get back as 
soon as possible. 

Mr. Brown accepted the explanation, but 
ventured the remark: “I just bet you was 
asleep when you passed thar,” and Jim be- 
gan wondering if it could really have been a 
dream. 


CHAPTER V. 


AIR-CASTLES WELL ENOUGH— BUT THEY SHATTER. 

After “Princess” had finished her lunch, 
she offered to help with the dishes, but she 
was told to run along in the sunshine. 

She was really glad to get out for she had 
many things to think about today. These 
were not dreams now, they were real things 
which were needed to be done — air-castles 
were all well enough, but hers always shat- 
tered. 

“Princess” could but think that a girl 
was at a disadvantage in a small village; 
there was nothing for one to do by which 
she might earn her own living. 

IPs true that she loved to be free to roam 
at will among the flowers and the brooks, 
but she felt that such a life was too idle for 
a poor girl, so she must be up and doing. 
She determined to start that very day. She 


“ PRINCESS ” MAE 


29 


had quite made up her mind that she would 
not be shut up in a school-room again; now 
she was seventeen and quite old enough to 
help herself in some way, without putting 
the burden entirely on the two who had 
saved her from every hardship. She selected 
a piece of hand work and went straight to her 
“bower.” 

“Princess” loved dainty clothes and bits 
of fine lace; in fact, she loved everything 
beautiful, and she wondered why it was her 
lot in life to be denied the things that would 
make her so happy. 

But she always said no gloomy meditations 
for her when she was in her “bower of happi- 
ness,” no unhappy thoughts, even for a mo- 
ment there. 

While her fingers moved rapidly, and the 
needle went in and out of the piece of linen 
and each stitch came nearer and nearer per- 
fecting a flower petal as she turned it around 
and around to see that every stitch was 


30 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


exactly in the proper place, her thoughts 
had been flying as fast as her needle. 

She sat for a long time musing on the 
problem before her. There was a frown on 
her fair brow and a serious look in her pretty 
eyes as she folded her work slowly and started 
to the house, but the birds began singing so 
loudly that she suddenly remembered the 
crumbs she had brought for them, and sitting 
down again she opened the package at the 
bottom of her basket. Soon all of her feathered 
friends had gathered around her. 

They had never seen “Princess” in this 
mood before, but now they were in their old 
accustomed places in her lap and on her 
shoulders and about her feet, and while she 
fed them she told them she was going to be 
a very busy girl, but she would steal away 
every day for a while and have a chat with 
them. 

They did not seem quite satisfied, for when 
they had finished their lunch, they almost 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


31 


surrounded her as if they would keep her a 
prisoner there, but she arose to go and the 
birds carrolled a melody with a suggestion of 
regret. They seemed to think she would 
never come back. 


CHAPTER VI. 


IN WHICH “PETE” GOSSIPS SOME. 

Mr. Brown soon had the rig ready and it 
was decided to send a driver as Marsdon was 
not coming back through the country. 

The negro boy was glad to get a chance 
to ride behind that “hoss,” and Marsdon 
was glad to have him go along, hoping that 
he might be able to give him some informa- 
tion in regard to the families who lived at 
Exter. 

The distance was short and the roads were 
rough, rocky and winding, and the “new 
hoss” wasn’t such a very fast traveler, so 
Jim thought, but “Pete” did not change his 
mind, although he had to spur him on a few 
times when he was inclined to stop and 
graze wdiere he saw a nice fresh spot of grass. 

“Well, Pete,” said Mr. Marsdon, “do 
you know any of the people in the town where 
we are going?” 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


33 


“Yes, siree; I shore does.” 

He put the reins out of his hand over the 
front board of the buggy, and began enumerat- 
ing on his fingers, beginning with the thumb, 
“Thar’s Mister Sheriff Jones and his ma 
what lives with him, and all them teachers 
what teaches in the big skule up thar — and 
they thinks they is sum punkins, too, and — ” 
but it became necessary at that point to pick 
up the reins again. In order to make the horse 
move on, “Pete” slapped the reins against 
him a few times, and said “git up thar” and 
then placing them over the foot board again,, 
the boy, beginning with the finger where 
he stopped, said, — 

“And thar’s Preacher Doyle and Mister 
Jemes Long — he keeps the post office, an’ 
his sister, Miss Peggy, she heps him; anyway 
they says as how she reads all the mail what 
ain’t shet up an’ them what is writ in thin 
emvelopes what kin be seen thru — and Mr. 
Judson — he keeps store — an’ Mr. Huff, he 
keeps the libery stable — an’ — ” 

3 


34 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


“But,” Mr. Marsdon said, “Arn’t there any 
ladies in that town except Miss Peggy, the 
assistant post mistress?” 

“Oh, yes, shore,” said “Pete,” “thar’s Mr. 
Preacher Doyle’s wife — an’ Mr. Huff’s wife 
— an’ — ” 

“Yes, I know,” said Mr. Marsdon, “but 
arn’t there any young ladies?” 

“Yes, shore thar is, thar’s Miss Trincess,’ 
but I thought every body knowed Miss 
Trincess’ lived thar — she is just called that 
kase she’s so pretty, she lives with her ma 
and Miss Helen up thar in that ar white 
house what sets aside the railroad — and then 
thar’s Miss — ” 

But, Mr. Marsdon interrupting said, 
“Thank you, Tete,’ but we are getting in 
sight of the town and you will not have time 
for any more gossip now.” 

Marsdon felt sure that Miss “Princess” 
was the one that he was seeking, and he sud- 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


35 


denly lost interest in the other residents of 
the village. 

When they had gotten to the edge of the 
town, Marsdon said that he preferred walking 
the balance of the way as he needed the exer- 
cise, and he told ‘ Pete” he need go no further. 

Marsdon got out of the buggy and handed 
the boy a coin that made his eyes shine — 
and with a giggle he slipped the money into 
his pocket and said: 

“Thank’ee, sur, I ain’t never had that 
much dough all by myself — and if yer ever 
gits thar before yer knows it, and has to 
come straight back, I’se the one what’ll be 
glad to drive yer over. Good-bye, sur.” 

“Pete” turned the horse’s head and was 
soon out of sight. 

Marsdon walked slowly; he was giving 
himself time, for as yet he had no plans as 
to how he was going to meet her. 


CHAPTER VII. 


DUPLICITY— BUT CUPID IS TO BLAME. 

Jim Marsdon went around by the station 
and left his suit-case, and then with his heart 
beating a little faster than usual, he walked 
straight to the door of the white house “what 
sets aside the road.” 

He rang the bell, for no one was on the 
porch; and he had no time for further thought, 
for he heard footsteps and the door was 
opened by Helen. And he was sure this was 
the sister of the girl he was seeking, for the 
resemblance was very strong. 

Jim managed to stammer, “Good morning.” 
Helen, in a sweet, soft voice, responded, 
“Good morning.” It was evident that Jim 
was a little bit confused, but Helen looked 
so composed that he felt his timidity leaving 
him and he found his speech again and said, 
“Please pardon me, but can you direct me 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


37 


to a hotel or boarding house where I can get 
a lunch. I have just gotten in town and will 
have to remain here until the next train leaves, 
which will be late in the afternoon. I am a 
stranger, and will appreciate it very much 
if you will be so kind as to direct me.” 

It never occured to Jim that he was again 
putting himself in a position to be thought of 
unsound mind, for the most natural thing 
for him to have done was to have inquired 
of some of the loafers at the station or the 
ticket agent, or even the village store keeper, 
who was just across the tracks. 

But, you see, Jim Marsdon didn’t have 
time to think of all these things, and they 
never occured to him at all until a long time 
after. 

Helen said, “Your request seems a sim- 
ple one, yet it is harder to grant than you 
know. We have no hotels in the place, and it 
is now passed the lunch hour for most of the 
villagers.” 


38 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


“No place that a fellow could get a cup of 
coffee to ward off a headache?” 

“I do not know of one at this hour, but 
wait, if you will be willing to have lunch 
here, I am sure my mother will be delighted 
to give you one of her excellent cups of coffee, 
and no one could have a headache after 
drinking one of them, for my mother takes 
great pride in the brewing of a cup of coffee.” 

“Oh! I couldn’t think of troubling her. 
Perhaps I might get a bite of something at 
the village store.” 

But sympathetic Helen saw him when he 
pressed his hand to his head, and at once 
she said, “Why mother would listen to nothing 
of the kind, and it would be no trouble, for 
we have not yet cleared the dishes from the 
table,” and she invited him in and called her 
mother to make a cup of coffee and one of 
her very best, too. 

The mother stepped into the hall, where 
she met the stranger who was threatened 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


39 


with a headache on “account of a tiresome 
trip, and the lack of a cup of coffee.” 

Mrs. Norton assured him it would be a 
pleasure to help a stranger and regretted 
that the village did not boast of a hotel where 
he could get a good hot dinner. 

She did not know how happy Jim was over 
the fact that there was no hotel. 

Fate was being kind to him, but his eyes 
were restless, for they were looking for the 
girl of his quest. 


CHAPTER VIII. 


SUSPENSE. 

Before going into the cool, comfortable 
room that Helen had shown him, Marsdon 
took a card from his case and handed it to 
her, saying as he did so, “Since I am to be 
your guest, allow me to introduce myself. 7 7 

Helen took the card from the extended 
hand, as she read it, she recognized the name 
as one of prominence. The card was heavily 
engraved and bore the name of James Cam- 
eron Marsdon. Helen in return told him her 
name and left him to freshen up a bit, while 
her mother prepared the coffee. 

It was only a short time before he came 
out into the hall and was called to the dining 
room. He certainly wasn’t hungry, but of 
course he had to eat, wasn’t that his excuse 
for being there? Didn’t he tell them he was 
looking for something to eat? 


" PRINCESS ” MAE 


41 


He watched the door while he lingered at 
the table, for after the lunch was over he 
would have no further excuse for staying; and 
he must see her before he left, but he couldn’t 
linger any longer. He had eaten, talked and 
sipped his coffee as slowly as possible; surely, 
fate wasn’t going to start out so well and then 
forsake him. 

Mrs. Norton inquired about the headache, 
and was assured it had quite vanished by the 
time he had finished his cup of coffee. 

He raised up from the table and asked the 
price of the lunch, and was assured “there 
was no charge.” It had been a pleasure to 
help a person who had found himself in a 
town that was so inhospitable as to provide 
no accommodation for strangers. 

He was profuse in his thanks, and he won- 
dered if there was anything else he could 
think of to prolong his stay. 

He told them it was possible that his busi- 
ness would bring him to this town occasionally, 


42 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


perhaps often, and he would be very glad if 
they would allow him the pleasure of calling 
whenever he was passing through. 

This speech had saved the day, for there 
was a real ripple of laughter, sweeter than 
any music he had ever heard, and with it 
a girl peeped in at the door, and it seemed 
to Marsdon, that her beauty filled the whole 
room. She was about to withdraw when 
she saw the stranger, but her mother beck- 
oned to her to come in, at the same time, 
saying, “ ‘Princess/ this is Mr. Marsdon,” 
then turning to him, “Mr. Marsdon, this is 
my daughter, Mae.” 

Mrs. Norton, seeing the look of surprise 
on Mae’s face, at once explained how Mr. 
Marsdon happened to be there. 

He found words enough to tell how sorry 
he was to be so much bother — but before he 
had finished his sentence, “Princess” tossed 
her head and gave one of her musical laughs, 
so heartily that it was contagious, and he 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


43 


found himself laughing with her. She finally 
said, “Mr. Marsdon, did you praise that cup 
of coffee very much?” 

“Indeed I did,” replied Marsdon, “I never 
drank better coffee in my life.” 

“Quite sufficient, young man, I assure 
you it wasn’t any bother. Helen knows my 
mother would make a cup of coffee at any 
time, in order to hear that coffee praised, 
and it isn’t often she has a chance to hear 
strangers praise it. Now, isn’t that all so, 
Mother, dear?” And she put her arms around 
her mother and placed a kiss on her cheek. 

They were all standing when Mae came 
into the room, so Marsdon remarked that 
“he felt that he had already intruded on them 
too long, he would now go to the station to 
await the arrival of his train.” While saying 
this, he was imploring Fate to be kind and 
give him further excuse to stay. 

“But your train does not leave for an hour 
yet,” exclaimed “Princess.” 


44 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


“That’s true,” said Marsdon. “But I 
couldn’t presume on your hospitality any 
longer.” 

“Well, Mother dear, I should say he wasn’t 
very complimentary to us, to prefer spending 
an hour in that stuffy station, instead of 
resting comfortably here.” 

Turning to him, she continued, “So, if 
you have no further business to attend to, 
why not rest on the porch?” 

He thanked her for her thoughtfulness, 
assuring her “it would not only afford him 
comfort, but happiness,” with this remark 
he passed from the dining room and went 
to the porch, where “Princess” Mae had led 
the way. 

Marsdon, who was accustomed to meeting 
girls of the social set, felt more embarrass- 
ment in the presence of this girl than he had 
ever known before; he couldn’t think of any- 
thing to say, her beauty overpowered him. 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


45 


He only wanted to sit and drink in the loveli- 
ness of her face. 

Time was passing all too quickly, and he 
must make the best of his opportunity, so 
he asked her permission to call again, as his 
business would bring him here again in a 
short while, and then he got up to leave, as 
it lacked only a few minutes of time for the 
train. 

He again thanked them for their kindness 
and bade them good-bye for a few days. 

“Princess” was the last to place her hand 
in his, and he perhaps held it a trifle longer 
than was necessary. 

A few minutes only and the train rolled 
into view. Marsdon took a seat near the 
window, and as he passed the house he took 
one long, lingering look, until he was swept 
out of view of the most beautiful girl he had 


ever seen. 


CHAPTER IX. 


LOVE OR HONOR? 

When Marsdon had gotten comfortably 
seated, he began rehearsing all the happen- 
ings of the day. He was comparing Mae 
Norton with the other girls he had known, 
and he likened her to a breath of exquisite 
spring air. She was delicious with her youth 
and beauty, and dimples and her eyes were 
like shining stars; her laughter was a peal 
of silvery sounds that contained all the glad 
notes of a beautiful spring. Surely no other 
girl in the whole world was so bewitching, 
and Jim’s face was radiant as he thought of 
her. He planned his trip for the next week — 
and there would be no passing through and 
having to wait on any “fas’ hoss” to take him 
back, for it seemed already as though days 
had gone by since he held her hand and said 
good-bye. 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


47 


Jim sat a long time exulting over the 
great joy of knowing her. One of the pas- 
sengers just across from him watched his 
face There, was a look of ecstasy that was 
so stamped there, that it lighted up his 
whole countenance. 

Certainly, thought the man opposite that 
that man has no sorrow, for he had never 
seen a face, on which happiness was so in- 
delibly printed. 

The man had become thoroughly inter- 
ested now and he was regretting that he was 
not an artist that he might get that expres- 
sion of real happiness, for the face was a study 
that could not be found every day; but 
while the looker-on watched, the picture 
changed — suddenly the brow clouded and 
a deathlike pallor overspread the face. 

The man opposite was startled for he 
thought that the change was from illness, 
and he raised up to offer his services, when 
he saw that it was deep despair that had 


48 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


overwhelmed him and he felt again that 
some artist had missed a fortune. 

It seemed almost impossible for one face 
to hold so much joy and so much misery — 
he could hardly recognize the face that was 
before him as the same that he had been 
watching a few minutes before. 

Little wonder that there was the contract- 
ed brow and the pallor, for Jim Marsdon 
had before him one of the deepest and most 
intricate problems that a man ever had to 
solve. Love and honor were fighting a 
battle in his brain and heart. He remem- 
bered that an impassible gulf separated them, 
even the overwhelming love that had en- 
veloped him so completely could not make 
him forget his honor. 


CHAPTER X. 


“WHAT IS SO RARE AS A DAY IN JUNE?” 

A week had passed since Marsdon had 
gone away, and he had said he would be 
back. 

“Princess” wondered if he would come. 

She had decided on a course in shorthand 
under one of the college professors. She knew 
of nothing else she could accomplish for such 
quick results and with such small outlay of 
money. This would not confine her to the 
school-room except for an hour each day, 
and the “bower of happiness” furnished a 
most excellent study hall. 

It was a pleasure to study while the birds 
warbled in the bows overhead, and the brook- 
let sang its song as it rushed on its way, and 
the breezes played a soft, sweet tune through 
the tree-tops, — all of these things told her of 
independence, a chance to go out into the 

4 


50 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


world and be of some real help to those who 
had economized so often to give her luxuries. 

She could soon be in a position to give in- 
stead of to take. No more idle dreaming on 
the porch. The only dream she indulged in 
now was, how soon she might do all things 
she was hoping to do. 

Several times during that week, a good 
honest face would seem to look at her from 
between the trees — a face lighted up with 
admiration. It seemed to be drinking in her 
whole being, and then she remembered this 
was the way Marsdon looked at her that 
day, when he waited on the porch. She 
began recalling the incidents of that day. 
Really, she had given very little thought to 
him until now and someway the soft grey 
eyes seemed to look into her very soul, and 
she knew the hand clasp was firmer and 
a trifle longer than necessary. 

She looked out on the landscape and began 
softly singing: 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


51 


“ What is so rare as a day in June ? 

Then, if ever come perfect days , 

Then Heaven tries the earth if it be in tune , 

And over it softly her warm ear lays.” 

It was a glorious day, and before she started 
her task, she feasted her eyes on the sylvan 
sights and listened with rapt ears to the music 
of the singing birds. 

The whole earth seemed bathed in a flood 
of glory. She put her books on a rustic bench, 
and went a few yards away where a field of 
daisies were waving their pretty heads. She 
gathered a bunch of them and placed some 
in her hair and some at her belt. She was 
loathe to leave this spot, but there was work 
for her to do. And when “Princess” once 
started a thing, she never turned back, and 
she had enjoyed her studies because she felt 
that they were leading her to independence 
and giving her a chance to be of some service 
to those she loved. 

After she had arranged her flowers, she 


52 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


went back to her favorite seat and began 
her lessons. 

The sun was shining through the leaves, 
and threw spots of gold on her hair. 

She wore a lawn dress with blue flowers in 
it, and there was a blue ribbon at her waist. 
The neck was cut just low enough to show a 
beautifully curved throat that looked as 
though it might have been carved from 
marble. The sleeves were short and showed 
her dimpled elbow, and her eyes were as 
blue as the heavens above. 

The birds were hopping around her and 
picking up the few stray crumbs, and they 
would stop and look at her as though they 
couldn’t understand; for she had always 
talked to them through their entire lunch, 
but recently she had been too busy to give 
them much of her time. 

This morning it seemed they were deter- 
mined not to be neglected by her; for they 
danced around and about her and those in 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


53 


the tree-tops were chattering so loud that 
she found it almost impossible to study. 
So she laid her books aside, and, with a few 
strains of a familiar song, she called them to 
her. 

Her voice was untrained, but the sweet- 
ness of it was like the warbling of a bird, and 
in a second she was surrounded by her feath- 
ered chorus. She still kept singing her song 
and it seemed that they would almost split 
their little throats, such was their glee. A 
fortune for an artist who could have repro- 
duced this picture on canvas. 

“Princess” stopped singing and threw back 
her head and a ripple of laughter burst from 
her lips, and she said: “I see that you are all 
trying to out sing me, so the only thing left 
for me to do is to laugh the loudest.” 

And the birds all stopped singing as if to 
listen to the music of her laugh, and then 
they twittered and twittered again. Oh, 
it was a beautiful game they were playing, 


54 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


and a more beautiful picture has never been 
seen. 

Jim Marsdon was the only one who had a 
chance to know; for as he took a step nearer 
to the entrance of her bower he threw a 
shadow across the threshold, and “Princess” 
looked up to find him standing there with 
his hat in his hand and a look on his face that 
she had never seen on a face before. 

She immediately raised up from her im- 
provised couch, and the birds, surprised with 
the suddeness of it all, flew in every direction, 
twittering among themselves as if in anger 
against the man who had broken up their 
game. 

Her heart was beating quickly as he placed 
himself in her way and extended his hand; 
his face was beaming with the great joy of 
seeing her again. 

“I did not expect to see you so soon,” 
she said lightly, as she pulled a flower to 
pieces. 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


55 


She invited him to return to the house. 
When he assured her that no place could be 
quite so comfortable as here, she assented to 
his pleadings to remain during his brief stay; 
for when he called at the house he was told 
where she was and begged to be allowed to 
go to her. 

They chatted for almost an hour, and she 
told him of her studies and her plans; they 
were like old friends before the hour had 
passed, and he wondered if any man had ever 
been placed in such a position before. 

The girl he adored was with him, but he 
dared not try to win her. 

He arose to go, he tried to say good-bye. 
But the longing to see her again was too 
great, and he told her he would come back 
ere long and hoped to see her then. He left 
her standing at the entrance of her “bower 
of happiness.” 

Only a few minutes passed before she heard 
the train that bore him away. It seemed 


56 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


useless to take up her books again just then, 
for her thoughts seemed confused, and the 
birds which had ventured back, since he left, 
finally flew away as if in disgust; for her song 
had ceased and her laughter was stilled. 
And in a few minutes she went into the house, 
for her “bower” seemed lonely and the sun 
didn’t seem to shine so brightly. 


CHAPTER XI. 


“A HOPE BEYOND THE SHADOW OF A DOUBT.” 

“Princess” received a package the next 
day that made her eyes fairly dance, for 
when she opened it, there lay dozens of 
American Beauties with their green leaves 
making a frame for them. 

No word, except a card with “For Princess 
Mae,” written in a plain hand and on the 
other side the engraved name of James 
Cameron Marsdon. 

Three weeks had passed and Jim dared not 
trust himself to go back; for he would not 
tell her of his love, till he was in a position to 
do so honorably. 

Every day brought some token; some days 
flowers, and then a book; again, there was 
candy that was fit for the gods to eat; 
and then a magazine or music — but never 
a word except the card. 


58 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


The usual package came one morning, 
this time a small booklet — a poem — a poem 
of love with here and there a word under- 
lined. 

Some way her lessons were going wrong 
and her song wasn’t so happy; she was rest- 
less and wondered why? 

In spite of every thing she found herself 
thinking of Marsdon; he had promised to 
be back soon — why did he stay away so 
long? 

Her thoughts were perplexing; the way he 
had looked at her when they parted told her 
plainly that he had regretted having to leave, 
but she began to reason that perhaps he saw 
so many girls in the outside world, he had 
forgotten his promise. 

Maybe after all they might never meet 
again. The thought made her feel faint. 

Little did she know the torture Jim Mars- 
don was enduring, when honor kept his lips 
sealed; when he longed to be at her side to 


“ PRINCESS ” MAE 


59 


to pour out all the love he felt for her, to hold 
her in his arms and call her his own. 


CHAPTER XII. 


THE VILLAGERS BECOME INTERESTED. 

Just as it is in all small villages, every- 
body knows everybody. 

The appearance of a stranger is always of 
interest, especially if he comes the second 
time and calls on the same young lady twice. 

Then, when packages come for the young 
lady through the mail every day for weeks 
after the stranger leaves, surely it is a matter 
for the gossips of the village to take_up_im- 
mediately, and even the village loafers about 
the stores when they drop in “jes to git a 
chaw of tobaccy,” must have something of 
interest to talk about. 

To Miss Peggy, the assistant postmistress, 
it was a great source of discomfort not to 
be able to answer questions in regard to the 
many packages that passed through her 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


61 


hands; all she could say was “another one of 
them packages come today,” for there was 
no package that “wasn’t shet up” nor was 
there a letter with a “thin emvelope.” 

All packages were carefully wrapped and 
sealed, not even a chance for the end to 
“bust off,” as one of the bystanders remarked 
when he saw the package handed out, and 
regretted that there wasn’t the slightest 
chance to get even a peep into that myste- 
rious bundle. 

Well, it was enough to make the villagers 
sit up and take notice, for hadn’t everyone of 
them heard that “Princess” Norton got a 
package every day, but never a card or let- 
ter, not even a souvenir card with an initial 
on it. 

The whole affair was getting to be beyond 
endurance and everyone was anxious to be 
able to be the first to tell something; and 
finally, the anxiety became so great that 
one of the villagers thought over the matter 


62 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


so much that he believed that these pack- 
ages all came from the stranger who had been 
in the village twice, and who on each occa- 
sion had called at the home of the “Princess,” 
and the only solution was that this stranger 
was a married man and was afraid to write 
or sign his name. 

The more he thought of this the more he 
felt it his duty to express his thoughts. No 
sooner had he solved the problem to his own 
satisfaction than the other villagers were 
made aware of the state of affairs as he saw 
them. 

In a small village a piece of gossip helps 
while away the time, and usually it only 
takes a short while for it to be heard from 
one end of the town to the other, and then 
the neighbors, feeling that they have not 
been quite sociable enough, decide to run 
over next door for a few minutes, and great 
luck if it happens to be the regular meeting 
day of the Ladies’ Aid, for they can^all be 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


63 


together, and their ideas and opinions can 
be discussed without so much loss of time 
in going from house to house. 

Now, perhaps this village was no worse 
than other villages, but it did seem to a 
stranger going there, that they took a very 
great interest in the affairs of others. Let 
that be as it may, everybody was thoroughly 
interested in Jim Marsdon’s case. 

They wondered if he would come again — 
perhaps his wife had found out that he had 
called on “Princess” and had forbidden his 
return. Of course, “Princess” ought to be 
told. 

The man who first conceived the idea that 
Jim Marsdon was married felt that it ought 
to be his great privilege to give the word of 
warning. 

When “Princess” stepped into the store 
to make a purchase, it only took a few sec- 
onds for her to become acquainted with the 
latest piece of news, and she left the place 


64 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


with the words ringing in her ears — “he’s 
married, you know.” 

Why hadn’t she thought of that before. 
She had been watching the trains, for she 
had felt sure that he would come again. It 
had never occured to her that he might be 
married. 

So, this accounted for his failure to return; 
the thought made her feel faint, she hurried 
from the store so that she might get the 
fresh air from the outside. 

There was no use in watching now; every- 
thing was plain to her; she could understand 
why he was keeping his whereabouts a 
secret — but why the tokens of remembrance 
every day? 

Of course she could not use his gifts, yet 
she could not return them for he gave no ad- 
dress. 

“Princess” Mae kept herself away from 
everybody a great deal; she preferred her 
field friends and the open air, instead of the 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


65 


gossips of the people and the stuffy parlors; 
so, naturally the villagers resented what 
they looked upon as selfishness. 

They had to admit she was the beauty of 
the surrounding country; and she had an 
aristocratic bearing that rightly gave her the 
name of “Princess” — her ancestry was some- 
thing she could proudly boast of, and with 
all this she had a lovable disposition — how- 
ever, all her good traits could not overbal- 
ance the fact that she held herself aloof 
from the others of the town, and for this 
reason there were some who rather enjoyed 
this little piece of news, if they thought it 
would make the “Princess” feel herself a 
little less important. 


5 


CHAPTER XIII. 


PLAYMATES. 


11 There is a divinity that shapes our ends , 

Rough hew them how we will” 

Ethel Hatton was the only child of wealthy 
parents. She was a charming girl and a great 
favorite not only in her own set, but with 
every one with whom she came in contact. 

Ethel had a wealth of dark brown hair, 
and large brown eyes that matched her hair. 
The warm Southern blood that ran through 
her veins tinged her cheeks with color, and 
Iiers was a rich dark beauty. 

The Marsdon and Hatton families had 
been on the most intimate terms as far back 
as memory can carry us. Naturally, Ethel 
Hatton and Jim Marsdon had been play- 
mates, and as they grew older there was a 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


67 


general understanding that some day they 
would wed. 

These plans had been mapped out since 
childhood and no other thought had been 
given by either, except that every thing would 
be carried out as it had been planned. 

When they both finished the preparatory 
school, Ethel went to a fashionable school 
for young ladies, while Jim pursued his stud- 
ies in a different city in the North. 

Their marriage, which was to have taken 
place soon after their return home, had to 
be postponed on account of Jim's illness. 

Ethel had given very little thought to mar- 
riage, why should she? When she was a 
little tot, she was referred to as Jim's sweet- 
heart; and when she was a pretty girl in short 
dresses and her hair braided down her back, 
Jim was always her escort to the parties. 

The other boys stood aside when Jim was 
there; and then when she grew into a glo- 
rious womanhood and came back to her 


68 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


home after the school days were over Jim, 
occupied all of her attention because he was 
ill and needed her. 

There was one who looked on the whole 
affair with an aching heart, and this one was 
handsome Jack Cecil. 


CHAPTER XIV. 


UNANSWERED QUESTIONS. 

Days had passed, and Jim Marsdon had 
not decided on any plan. 

This morning he was sitting in a hotel 
not more than a hundred miles away from 
Mae Norton’s home. He had locked him- 
self in as though afraid of intruders, and now 
he set himself the task of coming to some 
decision as to his future. 

He had never told the “Princess” or any one 
else how he had seen her from the train win- 
dow, and how he went back under pretense 
of finding a hotel, that he might look at her 
face again. 

He tried to be fair in his reasoning — if 
he married Ethel and his love belonged en- 
tirely to another, would that be honorable? 


70 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


Would the time not come, when perhaps 
by some word or look she would find that 
she was not the first in his heart? 

If he asked her to give him up, he knew 
that she would; but he would be putting her 
in a position to be called a jilted girl, and he 
couldn’t subject her to that. 

If Ethel released him, would the “Princess” 
marry him? But even that thought made 
him none the less anxious to be free, for 
without “Princess” he cared for no home of 
his own. 

He must find some way in which Ethel 
would have the chance of giving him up; 
and if she refused to do this, he would keep 
his promise and while life would hold no 
happiness for him he would make the best 
of it; and the “Princess” would never know, 
for his honor would make him keep his word. 

He paced up and down the floor and still 
he seemed no neared a solution of the prob- 
lem, his face was clouded, he looked years 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


71 


older than he did only a few weeks before. 
He felt that if he was only free to try to win 
her love, he would let nothing stand in his 
way, and surely such love as his would not 
be scorned. 

Little did he think that tongues of idle 
gossipers had been trying to poison the mind 
of “Princess” against him. 

Suddenly a light came into his eyes, and he 
looked as one inspired by a happy thought 
— he sat down to a writing table — reached 
for pen and paper and commenced a letter. 

“To ‘Princess’ Mae: 

“To tell you how I long to see you again, could 
not be expressed on paper. I have stayed away be- 
cause of this great longing — contradiction, isn’t it? 

“These are the facts: when I was only a boy of a 
few years I had a playmate, a sweet lovable girl, a 
year my senior. 

“When we grew to the school day age, we were 
called sweethearts; then the time came for us to go 
away to college, and it was understood that when we 
had finished our courses we would return home and 
then would wed. 


72 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


“The day after my graduation from a medical college, 
I was taken ill, but a few months in a hospital gave me 
back my life. 

“My school day chum gave me all the attention that 
the restricted rules of the hospital allowed. We had 
seen very little of each other since we had grown up 
only through vacation months, but had it not been for 
the long illness and the doctors forbidding me to fol- 
low my chosen profession until my health w T as fully 
restored, I perhaps would have settled down and the 
girl to whom I refer would have been mistress of my 
home. 

“We had not given much thought to love — some 
way it was just an understanding we had drifted into 
from our babyhood days. 

“The business I had chosen took me through your 
village, the trip had been tiresome and monotonous 
up to this point, but as the train pulled out from the 
station, I pressed my face against the window — I 
caught a glimpse of you sitting on the porch; it was 
too late for me to get off, for the train was already in 
full speed. 

“The next village was only three miles away, I had 
little time for thinking, when the train stopped I 
jumped off — you know how I went back to your door 
and asked to be directed to a hotel. 

“It was not the lunch I wanted — I only wanted to 
see you — even the delightful cup of coffee which your 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


73 


mother gave me did not relieve the restlessness — I was 
only wanting to see you. 

“This is perhaps the last letter I shall ever write 
you, for I am in honor bound to a dear lovable girl, 
but, ‘Princess/ I know that I love no one but you — 
I know that without you life will be a disappointment 
— a blank. 

“Perhaps I ought not to tell you this, but I could 
not go through life without letting you know, for I 
adore you, you are my princess, my queen. 

“I had intended going to see you once more, but I 
could not bear the parting again. 

“If I could only hold you a my arms once and press 
my lips to yours, the memory would be an oasis in 
the years to come. I dare not trust myself to see you; 
I only ask you to give me a thought sometimes. 

“I would not have your life clouded, but I cannot 
bear the thought of another claiming you for his own. 

“Maybe after all, the honorable thing for me to do 
would be for me to go to the other girl and ask her to 
release me, for I know now that she has never had my 
love — my real love — she is brave and good and I know 
she would give me my freedom, and perhaps, too, 
she has only cared for me as I have cared for her, and 
it would be better for her to know, yet it seems a 
cowardly thing to do, if she does care; it seems that 
I am only thinking of my own happiness — so my 
‘Princess/ my love, my life, for there is no life without 


74 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


you, I must say good-bye; may the years bring you 
happiness. 

“I will soon leave this state to go to my own; I will 
leave the dearest thing on earth to me. 

“Put your lips to the name signed below just once, 
my own, my beautiful queen. 

“Let fate do her worst — my love will always be 
yours.” 

JAMES CAMERON MARSDON.” 

With trembling fingers and a prayer on his 
lips, he folded the letter and placed it in an 
envelope. 

In a few days he would know his fate; for 
he deliberately and knowingly addressed this 
letter to — Ethel — the girl of his boyhood 
days. 


CHAPTER XV. 

FATE’S WORST? 

“Let Fate do her worst, there are relics of joy, 

Bright dreams of the past which she cannot destroy.” 

When Ethel Hatton received the letter 
written to one “Princess” Mae, but addressed 
to herself, she scarcely knew what steps to 
take. She thought the letter she held in her 
hand was intended for another and had been 
placed in her envelope through mistake, 
and supposed that her letter had gone to the 
girl who was addressed as “Princess” Mae. 

She felt that under ordinary circumstances 
it would not be honorable to read it, yet it 
seemed there was nothing else for her to do, 
for there did not seem to be any address 
where it might be returned, so she turned to 
the last page and her eyes fell upon the words, 
“Let Fate do her worst, my love will always 
be yours,” and below in the handwriting she 


76 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


knew so well the name of her own sweet- 
heart — James Cameron Marsdon. 

She did not faint, as some girls would have 
done, but she sat very motionless staring at 
the words before her; she was trying to de- 
cide what to do, then she decided to read 
the letter from beginning to end. 

Each page was read slowly and carefully 
until she almost knew the lines with her eyes 
closed. 

She sat with the letter clasped between her 
fingers, as if she were in a dream; her ears 
were deaf to every sound; and it was with 
difficulty that the maid succeeded in getting 
her to answer when she tapped repeatedly 
at her door. 


CHAPTER XVI. 


“O GOD! THAT ONE MIGHT READ THE BOOK OF FATE.” 

Jim Marsdon remained in the same city 
for days. 

He did not want to delay for a single minute 
the delivery of the letter which he was ex- 
pecting. 

He was heartsick from suspense, for he 
knew not what message the letter might 
bring; but let it be what it would, he would 
abide by it. 

He tried to read. He walked and smoked 
and watched the mails — he picked out beauti- 
ful flowers and sent them to “Princess.” 

Nothing relieved the restlessness — sev- 
eral days passed, he knew ere this, the letter 
had been received — suppose she were not to 
read it at all? 

Another night came and with it the last 
mail and no letter yet, he was afraid to leave 


78 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


the hotel for fear a special might be sent, and 
yet he must have air — fresh air — to relieve 
the stiffling sensation which was taking posses- 
sion of him. He took up his hat and walked, 
not caring where he went — it made no dif- 
ference — he just walked, and then he found 
himself opposite the park and he went in 
and sat down in the most out of the way 
spot where he would be unnoticed and could 
think; his brain felt as though it was on fire, 
but the cool breezes from the artificial lake 
were blowing across his face and he fell 
asleep from sheer fatigue. 

When he opened his eyes, he couldn't 
think where he was; he looked around him 
and remembered. He took out his watch and 
found that it was long past the midnight 
hour, and every seat was deserted. He was 
glad he had slept; he felt refreshed, even if 
the suspense still lingered, at least his brain 
felt clearer. 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


79 


On reaching the hotel he went straight 
to his room and tried to sleep again, but it 
was a restless sleep and it seemed to him as 
though day would never come. 

As soon as he knew it was time for the train 
to be in, he could wait no longer. He arose 
and dressed himself and went to the post- 
office, where he was rewarded, for the letter 
that was handed to him bore the familiar 
postmark and he recognized the writing at 
once. 

Now, that the letter was in his possession, 
he felt that he could not open it there, he was 
as nervous as a girl — he held the letter close 
in his hand and walked as rapidly as possible 
towards the hotel. 

When he reached his room, he closed the 
door and raised the letter that held his fate 
and with trembling fingers he broke the 
seal. 


CHAPTER XVII. 


MAE’S INDIGNATION. 

“I felt a tightness at my throat 
As if it would strangle me.” 

When “Princess” Mae left the store, she 
felt that in the last few minutes years had 
been added to her age. 

She knew that before night everybody in 
the village woud be discussing her. She went 
to her own room and, instead of the usual 
smile her brow was clouded and her lips 
were fimly set; her eyes were bright with 
anger. She was angry with the store-keeper 
and indignant with Marsdon; why should 
he put her in a position to be criticised? 

Why did he send gifts with no address, 
thereby giving her no chance to return them 
or to forbid him sending them? 

If one could have seen the little beauty in 
her rage — she shut herself in her room, then 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


81 


throwing herself across the bed she gave up 
to a storm of tears. 

Then she sat up and tried to take a sen- 
sible view of the situation; she had nothing 
to centure herself with; the man was nothing 
to her; she probably would never see him 
again, and even if she did allow herself to 
think of him occasionally nobody knew about 
that. 

A visit to her “bower” would make things 
alright, so she bathed her face carefully and 
went out to tell the birds all about it. 

She told them that she had been a very 
foolish girl to care at all because he did not 
come back, and she would build an air-castle 
and tell them how beautiful it was, and she 
would leave Jim Marsdon out entirely — 
but someway the castle didn’t seem to be 
so beautiful as she had thought and the 
“Princess” became quiet and she looked more 
serious than she had ever looked before. 

She found herself wondering what the wife 
6 


82 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


was like; she tried to picture him in his home; 
she just couldn’t make herself believe that he 
could be unkind to any one. 

A butterfly of gorgeous hue flittered by, 
and as she raised her eyes to follow it in its 
flight, she looked straight into the good honest 
eyes of Jim Marsdon. 


CHAPTER XVIII. 


“Sigh no more , ladies , sigh no more, 

Men were deceivers ever ; 

One foot in sea and one on shore , 

To one thing constant — never” 

Finally, a louder knock than the other 
brought Ethel out of her dream, and she 
opened the door to find Susette, her maid, 
with a box full of exquisite roses and a card 
which looked quite familiar laying among 
the petals — for it was not the first time she 
had received flowers from the same person, 
for Jack Cecil had loved Ethel Hatton ever 
since he had first seen her at a garden party 
five years before. 

Ethel had accepted these as little tokens 
of regard, for it never occured to her that 
these gifts meant anything but friendship. 

She had looked upon her engagement as 
binding, and no other thought ever entered 


84 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


her mind except that some day she would 
wed Jim Marsdon. 

Now, that she had read the letter and 
grasped its meaning entirely, she began ask- 
ing herself questions in regard to her feelings 
for him; had she really ever loved him? 

It's true the letter had disconcerted her 
for a few minutes, but it had not given her 
pain nor had it made her unhappy. 

The more she thought about it, the more 
convinced she was that her feelings for him 
was not love, but a deep interest and true 
friendship for a good comrade. Marriage 
with him would not make her happy, for the 
years they had been separated had not made 
her unhappy. 

She had enjoyed his letters because they 
were jolly, good letters; and when they were 
at home for their vacation, they were to- 
gether much of their time. It had never 
occured to her that Marsdon had never 
really made love to her, nor had she ever 


-*an 



5.TWINU 


/ 


“The Letter had Disconcerted Her. . but it had not 


Made Her Unhappy.” 








































i - 























































































“ PRINCESS ” MAE 


85 


thought of how little part love and affection 
had played in their lives — in fact, now that 
she thought of it, their attitude towards 
each other had only been good comradeship. 

Had it not have been for this mistake — 
the exchanging of letters — which of course 
Ethel did not know was intended on Mars- 
don’s part, she perhaps would not have waked 
up to the fact that her love for him was not 
the love that was required for a happy mar- 
riage. 

She laid the letter aside and took up a 
rose from the cut glass vase where Susette 
had placed them; a deep blush mantled her 
face and she pressed the flower to her lips 
and she murmured softly, with a new light 
in her eyes, “It only took this to make me 
understand myself.” 

Ethel was quite calm and when the maid 
returned she was ready to go down to the 
evening meal without showing a sign that 
anything unusual had happened. 


CHAPTER XIX. 


“SURELY 'TIS AN ILL WIND THAT BLOWS 
NOBODY GOOD.” 

A grand reception was to be given by one 
of the social set of which Ethel was a great 
favorite. 

Perhaps one might think that the letter 
which she had received a few hours before 
would have so completely upset her that she 
could not have attended, but strange to say 
there was a feeling of freedom about the 
situation that was new to her; because, 
since her childhood days there was the 
engagement that fate had seemed to have 
arranged for her with Jim Marsdon. 

Ethel was loyal to a promise, so she had 
never felt that she was free to accept any 
serious attention from any one else; in fact, 
she had never thought seriously about it. 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


87 


There were times when she felt her heart 
beating a trifle faster when handsome Jack 
Cecil talked to her, and again her eyes kindled 
with a sparkle that happiness alone brings 
when a waltz was being played and Jack 
Cecil passed his arm about her waist and led 
her into the crowd; and when his eyes looked 
into hers, there surely was a tenderness 
about them that she had never seen in the 
eyes of Jim Marsdon — but she never let her 
thoughts carry her far into the mysteries 
of love, there was no need, her future was 
already arranged, and while there had been 
no real exultation about their love affair, 
she had never questioned but that it was love. 

She had heard others talk of their lovers 
and their loves, and she did not quite under- 
stand; for their ecstasies were strange to her 
— but she thought that everybody could 
not feel just alike, so Ethel never allowed 
herself to think of any other than Jim Mars- 
don. 


88 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


Usually Susette found Ethel very easily 
pleased, but tonight she seemed more inter- 
ested; and it was after much trying on of 
this and that before she found a dress that 
suited her. It was a simple but exquisite 
costume, which showed her to the best ad- 
vantage — some soft, shimmering stuff that 
looked like gauze and silver. 

Jack Cecil knew that there was some un- 
derstanding between Jim Marsdon and Ethel 
Hatton, and for this reason he had never 
spoken of his love for her; but somehow to- 
night it seemed different and he felt that he 
had as much right to try to win the girl he 
loved as to keep silent while another walked 
off with the prize. So, when a waltz was over, 
he took Ethel to a spot where they were hid- 
den almost entirely from the view of others — 
an ideal spot — where palms and ferns formed 
a bower. There it was that Jack Cecil de- 
clared his love for Ethel Hatton and found 
after all the old saying verified, “that faint 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


89 


hearts never won fair lady”; for before they 
went back to the crowd Jack Cecil and Ethel 
Hatton were betrothed, and Jack insisted 
on an early date for their marriage. 

He said, “See how much time we have 
wasted already, just because I was afraid to 
speak,” — he didn’t know that, had he have 
spoken a few hours earlier, everything would 
have been different — for Ethel would have 
kept her word to Jim Marsdon regardless of 
her own happiness. 

When Jack handed her from his carriage 
that night and into her own door, the stars 
seemed to smile on these two, whose lives had 
been so nearly wrecked — but their happiness 
would be all the greater for the years of 
waiting. 

Ethel went to her room where Susette was 
waiting for her — she hurriedly undressed and 
dismissed the maid with the warning that 
she was not to be disturbed the next morn- 
ing until she rang for her — then she donned 


90 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


a wrapper and sat down to her writing-desk 
to write the letter that was to take happiness 
to Jim Marsdon. 

When she had finished writing it, she sealed 
and addressed it and placed it on a table 
outside of her door where it would be seen 
and mailed early the next morning. 

This task completed, she turned out her 
lights and went to bed to dream sweet dreams 
— and when with the dawn, wakefulness 
came, she closed her eyes again and no one 
blamed her if she said: 

“ Let fancy still my sense in Lethe sleep 
If it he thus to dream, still let me sleep.” 


CHAPTER XX. 


“YES, WE MUST BE FRIENDS.” 

Jim had read the letter — there was no word 
of censure in it. 

She told him she had not intended reading 
it. But in trying to find an address to return 
it, she saw his name and the words above, 
and then she felt intuitively that it was a 
matter of great importance to be decided; 
so she was led to read on — for which act they 
both had the fates to thank. 

She hoped that he had found out his mis- 
take before sending the other letter to the 
“Princess,” for it would be better if she were 
not to know. 

She assured him that he would always 
have her best wishes and she would watch 
his success in life with great interest — again, 
if the letter had not have been sent wrong, 


92 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


perhaps they might each have felt their child- 
hood pledge binding and found out only when 
it was too late. 

She told him she did not want him to let 
one regret for her mar his happiness. 

Her ring and other jewels she would send 
by express the following day. She did not 
tell him that ere the ring reached him another 
would shine in its place on her finger. 

“There are a few gifts that any friend 
might give to another, for we are going to 
be friends still, you know — but I cannot keep 
the gifts that are only meant for those who 
are nearer and dearer than mere friends.” 

She closed the letter by saying, “Now, 
Jim, you have your freedom, hurry to the 
girl you love, and I hope you may win her 
and be happy. 

“This is final, Jim, so do not write me 
again. When you come bring her with you. 
I haven’t a hard thought for you nor 
her.” 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


93 


And again assuring him of her deepest 
friendship, she signed herself — 

“Always your friend, 


“ETHEL.” 


CHAPTER XXI. 


“HE LOOKED AT HER AND SAW NOTHING BUT HER” 

“Princess” was speechless when she saw 
Marsdon. He held out his hand, but she 
trembled so, she did not get up, for the words 
of the village store keeper were burnt into her 
mind. 

She was indignant that Marsdon had come 
back, and that he would follow her here. 

Before she could find words with which to 
tell him her thoughts, he had caught both 
her hands in his and had pressed kisses on 
them — he was asking her if she was not a 
little bit glad to see him again? 

Her eyes were cast down, and a bitter pain 
was in her breast, her heart was beating 
wildly — and she thought he could hear it 
from where he stood — her loveliness maddened 
him, he caught her in his arms — a second 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


95 


only — heart beating against heart and then 
lips were pressed to lips in a lingering kiss. 

Then as the full sense of what he had done 
came to him, he released her suddenly; his 
arms fell to his side as he felt that perhaps he 
had offended her beyond forgiveness — they 
stood facing each other — he was too much 
stricken with regret to speak; he did not know 
what excuse to offer; he held out his hand to 
her and implored her to forgive him; she 
refused the extended hands, her eyes were 
aflame, her lips quivering. 

Never in her loveliest moments had she 
looked so beautiful, so enchanting; when he 
tried to speak, she stopped him and said, 
“Why did you come back at all? Did you 
think because you belonged to another world 
— that outside world — that you could while 
away your time with a simple country girl, 
while you waited for the train which would 
take you to a trusting, loving wife?” 

She was defiant. She bade him go and never 


96 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


return, if what she had heard was true. 

He stood pale and rigid before her; he did 
not move a muscle; but his face was white 
and his hands were tightly clenched, then 
with an eager appeal in his voice, he said, 
“The meanest criminal has a chance to de- 
fend himself; may I not know the nature of 
the sin of which I am accused?” 

When she looked into his honest eyes, hers 
fell before his gaze; for some way she felt 
that she had wronged him, and she poured 
into his ears the gossip she had heard from 
the village store-keeper. 

Marsdon listened to all she had to say; he 
found that he had time to catch the next 
train, and turning to “Princess” he said, 
“So long as there is doubt in your mind as to 
my sincerity and honesty, I have no right to 
speak to you of love; and I will ask no promise 
from you, only, if you think of me at all, 
do not think unkindly.” 

He did not even deny the accusation, but 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


97 


told her he hoped to return very soon and 
bade her good-bye for a short time. 

When he turned to go there was so un- 
mistakably a misery in his manner, in his 
voice, in his dejected looks that she was 
roused to sympathy, and she hurriedly called 
and held out her hand to him; he turned and 
closed his fingers over hers, and once more 
pressed his lips to them and without looking 
at her again he passed from her view. 


7 


CHAPTER XXII. 


“A MESSAGE THE ROSES BRING.” 

A few minutes later the train whistled and 
“Princess” knew it was taking Jim Marsdon 
away from her — she wondered if he would 
ever return. 

She could not forget the look of anguish 
in his face when he heard what the store- 
keeper had told her. 

He had been so happy that morning, when 
he started to see her; for he had in his keep- 
ing the letter that gave him his freedom, and 
he never thought that gossipers had placed 
a barrier between him and happiness; every- 
thing was so different from the way it ap- 
peared early in the day. 

He determined he would lose no time and 
knew it would only be a few days before 
everything would be all right, but it was 
tantalizing to say the least of it. 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


99 


On arriving in the city, he went straight 
to his room, and again reached for pen and 
paper; a few letters were written — one to 
the Mayor of his home town, another to the 
pastor of his church, and still another to a 
cousin who had been a United States Senator 
for a number of years — after sealing and 
stamping these letters, he went out to put 
them in the post himself. Then he went to 
the florist and ordered a box of roses — roses 
with the dew sparkling on them — roses so 
beautiful that they would make the eyes 
of the most fastidious maiden look in wonder 
and admiration. 

No letter accompanied the flowers, but 
away among the petals “Princess” found 
these verses: 

“I may not speak in words , love, but let my words be 
flowers, 

To tell their secret in leaves of crimson fire; 

They plead for smiles and kisses as summer fields for 
showers, 

And every purple violet thrills with exquisite desire. 


100 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


11 My roses, tell her, pleading all the fondness and the 
sighing, 

And the longing of a heart that reaches, thirsting, 
for its bliss; 

And tell her, tell her, roses, that my lips and eyes are 
dying 

For the melting of her love-look and the rapture of her 
kiss.” 

There was nothing for Marsdon to do but 
wait for the answers to his letters; there was 
no doubt this time what the answers would 
bring — it was only the interminable length 
of time the waiting kept him away from her. 

Day after day the accustomed package 
was sent — this time a box of forget-me-nots, 
and in the upper corner on the outside was 
his full name and address, so that the vil- 
lagers might know that he was not ashamed 
for any reason to use his name in writing to 
“Princess” Mae. 


CHAPTER XXIII. 


“No, there’s nobody just like you, dear, 

Though I search the wide world through ” 

A week had gone by since Marsdon had 
written the letters and every mail was watched 
eagerly, for he could hardly wait for the time 
when he could go to Mae Norton with every- 
thing cleared and no barrier between them. 

A glance at the clock told him that the mail 
would be in, and he lost no time in going for 
it. 

There were letters — those he had been 
waiting for and a marked copy of a home 
paper — all he wanted was to get the letters, 
he wasn’t afraid of the contents. Seeing the 
names of the senders on the outside satisfied 
him, and he opened the paper first and was 
surprised to read the announcement of the 
engagement of Jack Cecil to Ethel Hatton, 


102 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


the marriage to take place in the following 
month. 

Jim drew a sigh of relief, for he felt a great 
interest in his playmate; and he had not felt 
at ease, but this marked paragraph satisfied 
him, for he knew that Ethel Hatton was too 
true to do things for spite; and if she had 
promised to marry Jack Cecil, it was because 
she had found that she loved him, so it made 
him happy to know that he had caused her 
no unhappiness. The inspection of the let- 
ters seemed to satisfy him thoroughly, for 
his steps were more alert than ever; accord- 
ingly, it only took him a short while to make 
his preparations for his visit to the “Prin- 
cess.” 

An hour later he was on his way, and the 
only cause for uneasiness now was fearing he 
might not win her love. 

It seemed so long since he had seen her, 
since he had touched her hand. 

He did not try to read, but just allowed him- 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


103 


self the joy of thinking of her. 

In his mind he recalled every feature of 
the beautiful girl — the dimples, the color 
of her hair, — that is, he tried to decide on 
its color, for no one has yet decided that. 

He remembered the curve of her beautiful 
brow, the lips that were like June roses. 

Then, it was useless for him to describe 
her even to himself, — the picture of her was 
so indelibly stamped on his heart that he 
could close his eyes and she was with him 
then. In his dreams he saw her, oh! the very 
thoughts of her loveliness made his pulse 
beat madly, and he began humming softly 
to himself: 

“My love, whose lips are softer far 
Than the poppy petals are, 

And sweeter than the violet 

It seemed to Marsdon that the train was 
crawling, but he realized that he was nearing 
the end of his trip; the train was slowing at 
the station where “Pete” lived, and looking 


104 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


out of the window he saw the boy who had 
by this time seen him. 

The grin on “Pete's” face was a broad one, 
showing a pearly row of teeth, which were 
all the whiter for the extreme blackness of 
the skin around them. Stepping close to the 
train window, he said: 

“Now, Mister, is yer shore whar yer is 
gwine dis time? kaze if yer ain't, yer'd better 
git off till yer recollects, kaze yer might er 
be gointer git off here, an' won't know till 
yer gits to de next place. I'se jes telling yer, 
kaze you'se dun furgit the yuther time.” 

For his kindness in trying to save Jim the 
trouble of going back to where he had just 
been, “Pete” caught a coin as it was tossed 
from the window, and then the train puffed 
on its way where in a few minutes he was in 
sight of the village where “Princess” lived. 

Again, he pressed his face against the win- 
dow, hoping that he might catch a glimpse 
of the girl of his dreams. 


CHAPTER XXIV. 


HOPES AND FEARS— BELIEF AND DISBELIEF. 

A week after Marsdon had gone, “Prin- 
cess” sat in her “bower,” the birds thought 
she might be asleep, for her head had fallen 
upon her breast — she was tired — strangely- 
tired. She tried to rouse herself, but would 
resume her meditation. 

She sat there a long time waiting for the 
whistle of the train, for she felt very sure 
that he would come back, perhaps not today, 
nor tomorrow, but soon. 

She heard her mother’s voice calling her, 
and she listlessly got up and went towards 
the house, where Mrs. Norton met her. 
She said, “My dear, you look tired.” Think- 
ing that perhaps she was studying too hard, 
she insisted that she put her books aside for 
today and that she would go to her room and 
rest before she had lunch. 


106 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


“Princess” was very glad to get away from 
loving eyes that might read her secret. She 
knew that Marsdon loved her, and she felt 
now that she had done him an injustice; for 
she knew that Jim Marsdon was not guilty 
of any wrong. She was sorry that she had 
sent him away letting him believe that she 
doubted him. 

These last few weeks had brought to 
“Princess” situations and combinations of 
events which had indelibly engraved them- 
selves on her memory. Her heart had opened 
to new feelings, and she longed for Marsdon 
to come back and let her tell him she believed 
in his innocence. 

Had he told her of his engagement and 
shown her the letters that he had written to 
Ethel and the answers she had sent him, it 
would not have been necessary for further 
proof in regard to his marriage; but he 
wanted to win her love before he told her of 
the other girl. 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


107 


She heard the rumbling of the train in the 
distance, and then it came nearer and nearer, 
and finally stopped altogether. She could 
not resist looking from her window and her 
heart gave a great bound of delight as she 
saw a familiar figure jump from the train. 
The cloud is swept away, as if by magic, 
from her face, and her eyes grew bright with 
joy. She knew intuitively that he was inno- 
cent, that he was bringing the proof of his inno- 
cence to her; for he said he would come back 
soon, when he could banish all doubt from her 
mind. 


CHAPTER XXV. 


“TELL ME THAT YOU LOVE ME, FOR THAT’S THE 
SWEETEST STORY EVER TOLD.” 

Marsdon went straight to the house. Every- 
thing was settled as far as he was concerned. 
But he had doubts in regard to “Princess” — 
perhaps she already had a lover — but that 
would not keep him from trying to win her; 
certainly, there was no such word as fail 
in his vocabulary, when “Princess” might 
be the reward of success. 

When he passed the store where “Princess” 
had heard the words that had first made her 
doubt him, he saw the store-keeper look up. 
He longed to stop and show him the proofs 
that he was free to give Mae Norton his 
whole love. But he controlled his impulses 
and rushed on to see his heart’s queen and 
to learn his fate from her. For in the few 
weeks he had known her, everything had 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


109 


been perplexing; when one thing righted 
itself and all looked as though it was fair 
sailing, a cloud would cast its shadow over 
him, but each time the cloud passed on and 
the silver lining left its reflection behind. 

When the door was opened to him, it was 
Mrs. Norton who met him. He went into 
the little sitting-room and after talking a few 
minutes asked if the young ladies were quite 
well. Being assured that they were, Mrs. 
Norton said that Helen was not at home, but 
she would call “Princess,” she had seen her 
go into the garden a few minutes before, to 
gather a few flowers, so she had said. 

The real truth was that Mae Norton's 
heart had told her why Jim Marsdon was 
coming, and she wanted to be away from 
all other eyes when she met him, and there 
could be no spot where she would rather 
hear the story of love than her own “bower,” 
where only the birds would be witnesses. 

Her heart was beating against her breast, 


110 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


and she had a hard time trying to compose 
herself so as to meet him calmly. “Princess” 
had tested her own heart thoroughly, she 
knew that she loved Jim Marsdon, but she 
must not be too lightly won, so she put her 
hand against her heart and said, “O heart, 
do be still,” for she heard foot-steps on the 
walk and she knew that Marsdon was near. 
She was afraid to look up for fear he might 
see her true feelings for him, so when he spoke 
she gave him only an indifferent glance, but 
he could not fail to see the “lovelight in her 
eyes,” and his heart gave a great bound of 
joy. 

He took both of her hands in his, and com- 
pelled her to look straight into his eyes 
while he drank in the glories of her beauty — 
of the marvelous whiteness of her skin, and 
he thought of the line, “Her eyes are sapphires 
set in snow.” 

Certainly, to Marsdon’s mind, Tennyson's 
“Daughter of the Gods, divinely tall, and most 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


111 


divinely fair,” could not compare with this 
goddess of beauty before him. “I have 
brought you these,” he said, producing the 
letters, which were absolute proofs of his 
honesty and high standing in his home city, 
in his church, and in the hearts of the people 
in his own community, where he had always 
lived. 

“Princess” saw what they were, and she 
pushed them back to him and said, “I am 
ashamed that I doubted, and to prove that 
I believe in you, I accept your word without 
further proof,” and she tried to wink back 
a tear that was very near the surface. Jim 
saw the tear, but pretended not to see, but 
it told him more than words, for — 

“ The lips may beguile , 

With a dimple and a smile , 

But the test of affection’s a tear.” 

Then, a tear more valuable to him than a 
diamond, for it gave him hope of winning 


112 


“PRINCESS” MAE 


her, even though it might take months, for 
he did not intend to delay a moment; he was 
afraid to leave her for fear of losing her, so 
there in her own “bower,” she heard from Jim 
Marsdon’s lips the words of love that would 
never grow old. He told her how he saw her 
when he was looking from the train window; 
how he got “Pete” to drive him back, and 
about the other girl who was now truly happy 
in the love of another, and then he made her 
read the proofs that cleared him of the accu- 
sation of the village store-keeper. 

Now all that was needed for his complete 
happiness was to know that “Princess” 
loved him, and to claim her for his own. He 
was not even daunted when she was shy and 
stared beyond him. She was afraid to look 
at him, for fear he would read her answer in 
her eyes and she had known him such a short 
time. She was afraid he would think her 
unmaidenly. She tried to keep her head away 
for fear of the tell-tale blush or that her eyes 



“ ‘I am Ashamed that I Doubted, and to Prove that I Believe; 
in You, I Accept Your Word without Further Proof,’ ” 





“ PRINCESS ” MAE 


113 


might betray her, for she knew they held a 
world of tender love for him. He saw the 
sweet quick flush and then he poured such a 
wealth of love into her ears, and his tones 
were so earnest, and there was such tender 
pleadings in the voice that “Princess” slowly 
turned her head towards him and there was 
no further doubt in his mind. 

The past cast no shadow — to them, there 
was only the present and a beautiful future. 
All the pain and misgivings and all anxiety 
had been completely swept away when eyes 
met eyes. The few weeks of perplexities had 
banished so entirely that it seemed as though 
they never were. 

He took the snow white hand in his, and 
slipped the ring that betrothed them on her 
finger, then as he pleaded for a kiss, he said, 

“The sunlight clasps the earth, 

And the moonbeams kiss the sea, 

What are all of these kisses worth, 

If thou kiss not me?” 


114 


“ PRINCESS ” MAE 


It was a blushing but very happy “Prin- 
cess” that went into the house with Jim 
Marsdon. 


EPILOGUE 


“She is mine own, and I as rich, in having such a jewel 
As twenty seas, if all their sands were pearl, 

The water nectar, and the rocks pure gold.” 

It was a beautiful day, an ideal day, four 
months after he had first seen “Princess” 
as he looked from the train window, when 
he claimed her for his own. They were married 
quietly in the pretty little house that “set 
aside the road,” and amid a shower of rice 
he took her away, where her dreams were 
going to be realities, and every day there 
are air-castles built and they do not shatter 
now; for James Marsdon loves his beautiful 
wife with a love that borders on idolatry. 










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